CENTERVILLE – Triad worked its way to a rain-soaked 15-0 victory over Newton in a Division IV baseball district final on Friday, claiming the Cardinals’ first district title since 2011.
The Cardinals did it with a little bit of everything – solid defense, patience at the plate, big hits and great pitching. Trent McIntyre threw a no-hitter for Triad, striking out 9 batters in five innings of work before the game was called due to the run rule.
“Trent battled the weather with the wetness and we hit. They helped us with some walks, but we hit,” Triad Coach Will Nichols said.
Dalton Holycross led the way at the plate, going 3 for 3 with 3 RBI. Shane Ford had a double and 4 RBI, Jacob Greve was 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI and McIntyre, Trevor Instine, Timmy Marsalis and Isaiah Bruce each had an RBI.
In the third, Briley Harlan hit a bases-loaded triple that broke the game open. Harlan was 2 for 4 with those 3 RBI for the game.
“That was huge. It broke the game open,” Nichols said. “All around a good team effort. We played well and we came to play.”
The Cardinals secured a lead in the second, putting three runs on the board and giving McIntyre a lead. But in the third, Triad batted around, taking walks when needed, hitting hard shots that forced a couple of errors and finding gaps. In total, Triad put 12 runs on the board in the third.
That was more than enough for McIntyre, who threw gas from start to finish and blew his fastball by hitter after hitter, mixing in just enough off-speed and breaking pitches to keep Newton uncomfortable.
In the fifth, with substitutes scattered throughout the lineup, Timmy Marsalis made a sliding catch in right field to preserve McIntyre’s no-hitter.
“Now we head to regionals. And it’s local! I wish we could go every year, but we’ll take what we can get,” Nichols said.
Triad will play the winner of the Miami Valley Christian and Tri-County North game, which was postponed to Monday.
The regional game will be at Carlton Davidson Stadium in Springfield on Thursday.
Mechanicsburg softball loses
PIQUA – Mechanicsburg lost to Houston, 6-3, in a Division IV district softball final on Friday.
Jessica Maddux was 2 for 4 with a pair of doubles and Cici Link had a double for the Indians (13-6).
“This really wasn’t our day. It just didn’t turn out the way we thought it would,” M’burg Coach Abbey DeLong said. “The girls played hard and fought hard.”
